National Nutrition Centre summer camp equips children to fight NCDs through healthy living

The National Nutrition Centre (NNC) has wrapped up its annual summer camp after equipping children with practical skills to help prevent chronic illnesses, with organisers urging families to continue healthy habits long after the two-week programme ends.

Speaking at the camp’s closing ceremony at Springer Memorial Secondary School, Government Hill, St Michael, on Friday, nutrition officer and camp director Glencil Taylor said this year’s camp was deliberately designed  “with a specific focus on the prevention of non-communicable diseases”.

Nutrition Officer at the National Nutrition Centre and Camp Director, Glencil Taylor. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla/Barbados TODAY)

She explained that the programme brought together several health professionals and organisations to address children’s physical, mental and nutritional well-being.

“The National Nutrition Centre revisited an older model for structuring camp activities which today remains relevant, as many health experts now embrace the importance of shifting towards caring for the whole person in the delivery of health services and health initiatives. This is done through the involvement of multiple health participants, all working towards the common goal of NCD prevention.”

Taylor said the camp, which ran from July 13 to July 24, exposed 24 children, nine to 13, to a wide range of educational and hands-on activities.

“We really want them to have an understanding of the importance of making healthy food choices and help to empower them to do so.”

Participants learned about Caribbean food groups, nutrients, food label reading and healthy lifestyles, while also taking part in daily physical activity sessions, visits to the National Sports Council, Peg Farm and an A-one Supermarket, where they practised reading nutrition labels.

Taylor said practical cooking sessions were among the highlights of the programme, including “food preparation sessions… teaching them how they can include vegetables into favourite foods”.

Persons sampling the food prepared by the campers. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla/Barbados TODAY)

“We also showed them how they can make beverages that are made with wholesome foods… beverages made with less sugar.”

Healthy beverages made by the campers. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla/Barbados TODAY)

Taylor encouraged campers to continue applying what they had learned and share the information with their friends and family. 

In a direct appeal to parents, she said:

“Model and practice healthy living at home. Create environments within the home where healthy foods are easily accessible… Make water the beverage of choice. Less drinks and juice; prioritise water… Healthy food choices, adequate physical activity and healthy food environments would now be your policy for life.”

Parent Janet Crawford said enrolling her son after seeing the programme advertised on Instagram proved worthwhile.

“I decided to register my son… so he could learn more about healthy living in a fun and practical way.”

She said the programme combined education with enjoyable experiences.

“The camp offered interesting tours. He visited the supermarket so he could understand how to shop for healthy snacks, the gym for fitness routine, and a visit to the Peg Farm where he learned about fresh produce and animals.”

Crawford added that her son also gained valuable kitchen skills.

“He also learned how to prepare healthy shakes, smoothies and nutritious sandwiches. Physical activities was also included. He would understand how important exercise is.”

Describing the overall experience as positive, she said, “Overall, his experience was interactive and enjoyable. I will definitely register him again.

The ceremony concluded with parents and representatives of supporting organisations sampling healthy dishes prepared by the campers, while the National Nutrition Centre donated nutrition workbooks to the Home Economics Department at Springer Memorial Secondary School.

Several agencies supported the programme: the Barbados Fire Service, the Ministry of Health’s Dental Department, the Environmental Health Department, the National Council on Substance Abuse, the Psychiatric Hospital’s mental health team, the Ministry of Agriculture and volunteers from the University of the West Indies’ Human Nutrition and Dietetics programme.

(LE)